St Jude Medical Silzone heart valves

St Jude Medical Silzone heart valves
Three years after its introduction in 1997, St Jude Medical Silzone heart valves were found as the main cause of making people sick due to defective coating. St. Jude Medical, Inc., manufacturers of these valves, recalled devices with Silzone coating on January 21, 2000. During that period, about 2,300 Canadians were implanted with defective valves.
St Jude Medical Silzone heart valves were coated in silver to reduce the rate of infection, but the first class action lawsuits were filled in 2000 alleged that St Jude Medical was negligent in researching and developing the valve, marketing the product without proper testing. This manufacturer company sells and distributes mechanical heart valves and annuloplasty rings to hospitals around the world.
The silver-based coating St. Jude Medical used is known as "Silzone", applied to the sewing rings of the mechanical devices to reduce the risk of bacterial infection. It was estimated that only during January 2000, more than 36,000 Silzone heart valves were sold and implanted in patients around the world.
After that, St. Jude Medical announced a voluntary worldwide recall on all field inventory including repair products using Silzone coating on the sewing cuff fabric, such as the heart valve replacement, and made available information on its website and printed literature, meant to reach people suffering injury from implanted defective valves.
St. Jude Medical is no longer distributing any product with Silzone coating, and there is a Medical Expense Reimbursement Program instituted for patients who received this implant, although expressly remarking that reimbursement covers reasonable medical expenses that insurance are not reimbursing, being "medically necessary to detect, diagnose and treat paravalvular leak" as the company stated.
Although, the recall did not include Silzone products implanted in patients before January 21, 2000, the letter was made available for both physicians and general public information, and is still available at this address: http://www.sjm.com/documents/devices/2000recallnotification.pdf.
Silzone products issued safety warning in many countries before the recall, facing refused permission for hospitals and surgeons to use these products, while in those nations were St Jude Medical Silzone heart valves were approved, not all hospitals accepted these products and stopped implanting such devices, concerned about their patients safety.
Research began to find increasing incidence of paravalvular leak (PVL) that eventually led to St. Jude Medicals recall. Paravalvular leak (PVL) is a flow of blood around the mechanical device, usually between the heart tissue and the attached valve sewing ring, making it necessary to remove the valve due to complications.
Actually, there are lawsuits against the company throughout Europe, as well as in Canada and the United States, where pre-trial discovery issues for Silzone cases have been handled by lawyers in the District of Minnesota.
As of August 2006, trial dates for cases in litigation between March 14, 2006 and June 13, 2006, had not been determined yet. Even when not all people have received a Silzone heart valve implant, the large number of injured persons makes a significant number of claims for damages to file the Class Action Lawsuit.

Silica

Silica
The most abundant rock-forming compound on earth is silicon dioxide, a mineral substance common in sand, rocks, and quartz, but also in many workplaces, where it is best known as Silica. Silica is found in diverse natural deposits, in a granular form silicon dioxide is the main ingredient of glass. However, inhaling Silica dust leads to cancer or silicosis, a disabling and irreversible lung condition.
People who worked in the glass and concrete industries have been injured by Silica. In the United States it is estimated that about 1.7 million workers in the construction industry have been exposed to this dangerous mineral at their workplaces, for long periods of time. Silica is one of the majors ingredients of Portland cement and central component in most glass optical fibers.
However, the number of people injured by Silica can be significantly higher, since Silica is also used for manufacturing inexpensive soda-lime glass and diverse glass products, the mineral is also found in clay and used with alumina for stoneware, earthenware, and porcelain ceramic processes. Silica is also used in medicine as a food additive either as flow agent in powdered foods, or for water absorption.
In construction, people exposed to sand, concrete, cement, brick, stones and steel industries, are more likely exposed to Silica, having higher chances of developing silicosis, if not cancer. In Texas, it was necessary for an Asbestos and Silica Lawsuit Reform legislation to protect victims and businesses.
Signs and symptoms of potential development often include fever, chronic cough, shortness of breath and bluish skin on lips or ear lobes. Once the silicosis has been detected, problems evolve to weigh loss, increased fatigue, chest pain, serious shortness of breath, and potential fatal respiratory failure.
Most lawyers recommend an evaluation before proceeding to file an Class Action Lawsuit, since there a three types of silicosis and based on its severity, victims can claim different compensations. The most simple form is acute silicosis, condition that usually occurs after a few weeks of exposure to Silica, or within the first 5 years.
Other stages of the injury comes over time, and harm to victims' health is considerable. Accelerated silicosis occurs after 5 to 0 years exposure, while chronic silicosis generally occurs after 10 or more years of continuous exposure to silica. The problem is aggravated because their is no definite cure for silicosis and the condition cannot be effectively treated either, often degenerating in cancer.
Current lawsuits have exposed that at least 250 Americans have died of silicosis each year. Actually, the disease is treated with steroids, oxygen, inflammation medications and pain relievers, but all of them only mitigate the symptoms, since there is no cure for silicosis. In many cases, victims have needed a lung transplant to survive.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) advices to follow all the guidelines for safety when working at industries where Silica is involved, to avoid suffering any injury from exposure. Otherwise, people who have been injured must get their case evaluated to recover damages by filing a Class Action Lawsuit.

Serzone

Serzone
Approved in 1994 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an aid for the treatment of severe depression, Serzone has also been prescribed for the treatment of chronic fatigue, eating disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and Lupus. Serzone is also used to treat arthritis, bipolar depression, anxiety, and panic.
Also known by the generic name of nefazodone hydrochloride, the drug was commonly administered to people who suffer from slowed thinking, difficulty concentrating, changes in sleep habits, and suicidal thoughts, as well as feelings of worthlessness, guilt, stress, increased fatigue, and lack of mind and body coordination.
Bristol-Myers Squibb, responsible for the manufacturing of this drug, announced the withdrawal of Serzone on May 20, 2004, after unsuccessful attempts made by the Public Citizen, who sued the FDA to force the banning of the drug. The American consumer advocacy group was one of the first citing the potential deadly liver complications linked to this antidepressant.
Common side effects of Serzone included confusion, dizziness, abnormal or blurred vision, constipation, dry mouth, nausea, sleepiness, light-headedness, and weakness. When injuries became severe, patients experience cough, decreased concentration, abnormal dreams, and flu-like symptoms, including dizziness and headache.
Major problem were associated to abnormal bleeding, chest pain, breast enlargement in males, breast-milk discharge in women, difficulty urinating, and life-threatening liver damage, the main lawsuit claim. However, the withdrawal was announced as a result of Serzone's poor sales worldwide rather than those potential health risks associated with the drug.
In December 2001, the FDA issued a warning for Serzone labels alerting liver damage complications. Dozens of deaths resulting from the use of Serzone were reported and lawsuits filed by family members, claiming compensation for those deaths. Only in the United States, about 7 million people have taken Serzone, increasing the chances for more lawsuits to be filed.
The total number of patients worldwide is estimated around 8.3 million people, meaning that Bristol-Meyers's favorite victims were American citizens. By the time of the withdrawal, Robert Hutchinson, a spokesman for Bristol-Myers Squibb said, "we'll continue to vigorously defend itself against the implication that Serzone is unsafe".
After the introduction of Serzone in North America, The Medical Letter, a non-profit publication, said that "Available data are inadequate to determine how nefazodone compares with other antidepressants. Better-established drugs are preferred." Class Action Lawsuits has been filed against Bristol-Myers Squibb, but includes other manufactures of the generic versions of Serzone called simply nefazodone.
Serzone victims are encouraged to protect their rights, finding a lawyer to file their class action lawsuit on their own or on behalf of people who passed away after being prescribed with this drug. Some studies also revealed that antidepressants of this type increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children and adolescents with Major Depressive Disorders.
If your children or adolescent was prescribed with Serzone, you must observe for suicidal tendencies, clinical worsening, or unusual changes in behavior, before it is too late. Even when Serzone was pulled out the markets, the side effects can remain for years.

Ritalin

Ritalin
When someone is diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, Ritalin is the medication that most doctors prescribe, as a stimulant to the central nervous system, especially to children and adults suffering from narcolepsy. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is treated with Methylphenidate (MPH), active ingredient of Ritalin, which is also used to treat symptoms of traumatic brain injury.
Ritalin is also prescribed for chronic fatigue syndrome and other daytime drowsiness symptoms associated to narcolepsy. Methylphenidate was patented in 1954 by Ciba, the pharmaceutical company precursor of Novartis, its actual manufacturer. It is estimated that millions of Americans, both children and adults are prescribed with Ritalin each year.
However, drug injury came into play when the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed a detailed report of 54 serious cardiovascular problems and 25 deaths resulting from the use of Ritalin in their different denominations or brands (Ritalina, Rilatine, Methylphenidate, Methylin, Rubifen. Focalin, Concerta and Metadate).
The risk of taking Ritalin are alarming, considering that some of the drug's side effects include loss of appetite, anemia, stomach aches, dry mouth, nausea, headaches, blurry vision, nervousness, and irritability. Other side effects of Ritalin include scalp hair loss, dizziness, drowsiness, difficulty sleeping, and motor tics or tremors.
In children, cardiovascular injuries can be accompanied by disturbing hallucinations, as it was revealed by the New Scientist Magazine on March 31, 2006. As with other harmful drugs, there are groups committed to create awareness among patients prescribed with this medicine, and encouraging them to file a Class Action Lawsuitfor damages received for the use of Ritalin.
Recent research has revealed at least 19 cases of children who experienced sudden death after the intake of drugs containing methylphenidate. Ritalin is also known for causing other less common side effects, but still risky, such as anorexia, blood pressure, palpitations and pulse changes, cardiac arrhythmia, hypersensitivity, and toxic psychosis.
Even when the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee urged the FDA to require a serious type of health warning on the label, its advice was rejected, and Ritalin has been adding new side effect to its record, including reports of cerebral arteritis, abnormal liver function, and leukopenia death.
But not only the list of health risks is increasing each year. Also the number of victims is staggering as the sales for Methylphenidate drugs, surpassed $3 billion in the United States during 2004 alone. Lawyers advise the lawsuit on basis to Novartis' products liability law, making the pharmaceutical responsible for any damages or injuries caused by Ritalin.
Ritalin is also produced in Mexico and Argentina, in the Americas, and the United Kingdom, Germany and a few more countries in Europe, which makes the number of estimated victims much, much longer, even when the sales in all those nations are lower in volume than the United States.
In 2001, state legislatures restricted schools from recommending drugs for the treatment of emotional and behavioral children problems, as response to the companies launching marketing campaigns directly at parents about the "benefits" of Ritalin and similar drugs to control their children.

Susan Lucci’s Microdermabrasion Secrets Revealed

Susan Lucci’s Microdermabrasion Secrets Revealed
In the popular TV soap All My Children, Susan Lucci plays Erica Kane, a sultry character who represents everything that is beautiful and desirable in a woman. She joined the cast in the 70s and now, more than 30 years later, Susan Lucci still has that same youthfulness and glow about her.
So what's her secret? She says it's all about excellent skin care. The signs of aging such as wrinkles, age spots, and crow's feet begin to manifest themselves when you reach the age of 30. But if you take good care of your skin, you will be able to retain the radiance and glow that you had when you were in your 20s.
As a dedicated advocate of beauty and health, the actress has created her own method of maintaining good skin, which she calls the Susan Lucci Microdermabrasion System. This beauty routine is very effective in keeping your skin healthy and young-looking, as you can see from Lucci herself.
The Susan Lucci Microdermabrasion System is highly dependent on exfoliation as a means to keep your skin young and healthy. You must exfoliate your skin regularly to get rid of the dirt, excess oil, and dead skin cells that build up on your face.
Simply washing your face with soap and water won't cut it anymore. The exfoliation process as used in the Susan Lucci Microdermabrasion System is essential if you want to maintain a clean and clear complexion.
If you have pimples or any other kind of acne, the Susan Lucci Microdermabrasion System is also helpful in treating your skin. Because of the efficient oil-removing capabilities of the Susan Lucci Microdermabrasion System, your acne problem will be solved in no time at all.
There are four products included in the Susan Lucci Microdermabrasion System. The first is the Cleansing Facial Wash, which you will use to prepare your skin before the treatment.
Then you will apply the Youthful Essence Vitamin-Enriched Resurfacing Cream onto your face using a special applicator which is included in the package. Use your fingers to rub the cream gently onto your skin with small circular movements. Do this for about 3 minutes, then apply the Facial Mist and Toner.
Finally, dab on the Daily Protection Moisturizer to keep your skin fresh and glowing the whole day.
The Susan Lucci Microdermabrasion System is ideal for use once a week for people with dry skin. If your skin is more of the oily type, you may use the Susan Lucci Microdermabrasion System twice a week.
With the Susan Lucci Microdermabrasion System, you will soon be able to have radiant skin just like the star herself.
Microdermabrasion systems utilize tiny, mildly abrasive aluminum oxide crystals to exfoliate away the outermost layer of skin. The procedure is not uncomfortable, and the end result is a fresh new layer of skin that hasn’t been subjected to years of potential scarring, sun damage, and other environmental conditions that can lead to skin damage.

The Causes of Acne

The Causes of Acne
Acne affects almost everyone — more than 90% of all adolescents, nearly 50% of all adult women and 25% of all adults. Crossing gender lines as well as national borders, it's one of the most widespread medical conditions in the world. Yet there's still no cure.
But there is hope. While acne is not curable, it is treatable. We now know more about controlling this condition than ever before. The secret to managing acne is prevention — stopping this condition before it exhibits visual symptoms. Once you have found an acne treatment that helps you accomplish this, it's important to stick with it. Even after pimples disappear, you may need to continue treatment to keep new blemishes at bay. It's also crucial to begin treatment as soon as the first signs appear; the sooner you address your acne, the less likely you are to experience permanent damage to your skin. Of course, in order to stop acne, we must first find out how it starts.
What causes acne? One of the most important things you can learn about acne is this:
It's not your fault. Contrary to popular belief, acne is not caused by anything you're doing — what you eat, how often you wash your face or work out — but by a combination of factors at work far beneath the surface of your skin.
A healthy follicle
A blemish begins approximately 2–3 weeks before it appears on your skin's surface. It starts in your sebaceous hair follicles — the tiny holes commonly called pores. Deep within each follicle, your sebaceous glands are working to produce sebum, the oil that keeps your skin moist and pliable. As your skin renews itself, the old cells die, mix with your skin's natural oils, and are sloughed off. Under normal circumstances, these cells are shed gradually, making room for fresh new skin.
But sloughing is different for everyone. Some people shed cells evenly; some don't. Uneven shedding causes dead cells to become sticky, clumping together to form a plug — much like a cork in a bottle. This plug, or comedo, traps oil and bacteria inside the follicle.
A plugged follicle
The plug traps oil and bacteria within the follicle, which begins to swell as your skin continues its normal oil production. Your body then attacks the bacteria with a busy swarm of white blood cells. The whole process takes 2–3 weeks, culminating in a pimple.
An inflamed acne lesion
Why me? There is no one simple "cause" of acne — the condition is influenced by many factors, many which are out of your control. The regularity with which you shed skin cells can change throughout your life. The rate at which you produce sebum is affected by your hormone balance, which is often in flux — especially for women. Research has also shown that genetics play a big part in the development and persistence of acne, so your family history is a valuable prediction tool as well when considering the various causes of acne.
One of the best weapons in the fight against acne, however, is knowledge; if you knowwhat causes acne, it's easier to formulate a good plan of attack. There are five primary culprits contributing to this process. Each of these factors may vary dramatically between individuals. While you don't have control over these factors, understanding them can help you in your search for the proper acne treatment.
Acne Causes - Culprit #1: Hormones. For the majority of acne sufferers, the trouble begins at puberty, when the body begins to produce hormones called androgens. These hormones cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge, which is a natural part of the body's development. In acne sufferers, however, the sebaceous glands are overstimulated by androgens, sometimes well into adulthood. Androgens are also responsible for acne flare-ups associated with the menstrual cycle and, on occasion, pregnancy.
Acne Causes - Culprit #2: Extra sebum. When the sebaceous gland is stimulated by androgens, it produces extra sebum. In its journey up the follicle toward the surface, the sebum mixes with common skin bacteria and dead skin cells that have been shed from the lining of the follicle. While this process is normal, the presence of extra sebum in the follicle increases the chances of clogging — and can cause acne.
Acne Causes - Culprit #3: Follicle fallout. Normally, dead cells within the follicle shed gradually and are expelled onto the skin’s surface. But in patients with overactive sebaceous glands — and in nearly everyone during puberty — these cells are shed more rapidly. Mixed with a surplus of sebum, the dead skin cells form a plug in the follicle, preventing the skin from finishing its natural process of renewal.
Acne Causes - Culprit #4: Bacteria. The bacterium Propionibacterium acnes, (P. acnes for short) is a regular resident of all skin types; it’s part of the skin’s natural sebum maintenance system. Once a follicle is plugged, however, P. acnes bacteria multiply rapidly, creating the chemical reaction we know as inflammation in the follicle and surrounding skin.
Acne Causes - Culprit #5: Inflammation. When your body encounters unwanted bacteria, it sends an army of white blood cells to attack the intruders. This process is called chemotaxis; or, simply put, the inflammatory response. This is what causes pimples to become red, swollen and painful. The inflammatory response is different for everyone, but studies have shown that it is especially strong in adult women.
What can I do? Fortunately, you have options! There are many kinds of acne treatments available today. But first, you should try to determine the type and severity of your condition. Acne, like a person, is highly individual — it can take many forms, and have a highly variable response to treatment. The more you know about your specific form of acne, the more likely you are to find a treatment that works for you. Learn more about the types of acne.

The Nutrisystem Weight Loss Program

Nutrisystem is an online, weight loss system wherein you order pre-packaged meals from their website that are delivered to your door.
This is a company that has risen from the ashes of a failed 'Weight Loss Center" business in the 1970's to the 1990's. They have resurrected themselves on the internet and are now enjoying great success.
What NutriSystem calls its 'Nourish program' is all about convenience for the dieter. Their heat-and-eat meals are ordered from their website and shipped to your door. They have an ongoing deal that will supply one weeks free food with every 4 week order (see the Nutrisystem deal here) The total cost then is $280 for 5 weeks food.
You must be aware that all the food is packaged (sealed) and not fresh and part of the processing involves additional sodium which may not agree with everyone.
When you consider how much you spend each week on groceries and how little most people like grocery shopping and preparing meals, it shouldn't be any surprise that Nutrisystem has become so popular.
If you choose to use autoship, your cost actually goes down each month from $280, to $270, to $260 and so on.
Both Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig offer pre-packaged foods with the concept of portion-controlled weight loss. The real difference is that Jenny Craig charges a membership fee (which requires signing a contract). Nutrisystem has no such contract and membership is free. Jenny Craig allows you to visit with a live counsellor, whereas Nutrisystem only offers phone counselling.
Apparently the average customer stays for nine and one half weeks. The possible reason for this is that the client loses the weight they wanted to and want to get back on fresh food again.This makes me think that the system is best for short-term corrections, but it is not a permanent eating style. The tricky part will be in the transition back to preparing your own food and keeping the portion sizes reasonable. This transition time can be a problem with any diet that is not a lifestyle change.
Everyone has different tastes and preferences. Comments from clients vary from very favorable to not so good.
Nutrisystem is pre-packaged and it's never going to taste like fresh, whole fruits and vegetables.
The food choices are based on the glycemic index. There are options for men, women, senior men and senior women, diabetics, and vegetarians. Typical daily calorie amounts will vary from 1200 to 1500, and each days food consists of 3 meals and 2 snacks. The content ratios are approximately 55% carbohydrates, 25% protein and 20% fats.
The 2 programs for women and men over 60 are different only in that there is the addition of one month’s supply of a multivitamin-mineral.
The company supplies various level exercise workout plans which I recommend highly for anyone wishing to lose weight.
Each of the programs offers several bonuses for the purchase of a 28 day program. One of the bonuses is a free week of food. You can see the rest here...Nutrisystem sign-up bonuses
Conclusions:
Most people will lose weight on a diet of 1200 to 1500 calories per day and having the meals prepared in advance and delivered to you is a good way to avoid slip-ups.
It's hard to say just how long the weight loss will continue as your metabolism will slow down to compensate for the reduced fuel intake. This is why it is so important to include exercise in your weight loss program - it boosts the metabolism!
In spite of the fact that people definitely lose weight with Nutrisystem, they not surprisingly get tired of the food in a couple of months.
I also have reservations about a diet that contains nothing but processed foods, they are just not as healthy as fresh, whole foods, so I can't give this diet my full endorsement.
Nutrisystem is for those who want the convenience of pre-packaged food, aren't too worried about flavour and don't think they will be able to simply eat less on their own. Well, if you can't control your portions now, what happens when you are finished with Nutrisystem?
In my opinion, you would be better off with a system from Global Fitness or eDiets.com or from Fat Loss Revealed by Will Brink and eDiets even has a pre-packaged food delivery service too!

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Vioxx

Different groups of people who have suffered the effects of Vioxx are claiming their right to file a Class Action Lawsuit against Merck & Co., the pharmaceutical company behind the drug classified as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), serving as a Cox-2 inhibitor for acute pain relief, which presumable also prevented cancer by means of blocking the growth of new blood vessels in tumors.
However, safety concerns in the US market, led Merck to voluntarily withdraw from the market its medication since 2004. The active ingredient in Vioxx was Rofecoxib, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used for the treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Merck used Rofecoxib in 3 of its products: Vioxx, Ceeoxx, and Ceoxx.
Claiming to be a global research-driven pharmaceutical company, Merck demonstrated that it is genuinely dedicated to putting patients first, when they announced the voluntarily withdrawal of Vioxx from the worldwide markets, not limited to the United States. After the withdrawal of Vioxx, science has continued evolving and finding new data.
Merck is distributing as much information as possible in its Resource Center, aimed to help people injured by Vioxx. Patients prescribed with Vioxx had twice as much risk of stroke or heart attack since the introduction of this medication in 1999. Upwards of 20 million Americans have taken Vioxx during its marketing cycle.
When a clinical trial revealed that patients taking Vioxx had a 100% greater chance of any sort of severe coronary injury, including sudden death, Merck announced that its commitment to scientific excellence, making patient safety its top priority, led to the decision that discontinued the manufacturing and prescription of VIOXX.
Despite their efforts for minimize the harm, Vioxx litigation continues under fierce scrutiny from consumers, lawyers, pharmaceutical companies, and diverse corporate officials. Numbers reveal over 4,200 state and federal lawsuits are pending across the United States due to Vioxx-related issues that have no follow up through Merck's website.
"Merck does not intend to address specific cases or comment about ongoing litigation on this site", that is the way in which Merck resumes its position about the ongoing fights. "As a Company, we continue to believe that we acted responsibly". In fact, Merck researched prior FDA approval, monitor the drug after it, and declared the voluntarily withdrawing when adverse results were increasing.
As of September 2005, Merck was also refunding the money for unused Vioxx tablets and patient kits, encouraging people for whom the medication worked to share their experiences by writing to the Food and Drug Administration. However, you can find up-to-date litigation information at the pharmaceutical's information center, located at this address: http://www.merck.com/newsroom/vioxx/.
According to studies, complications of taking Vioxx began around 18 months after the patient was prescribed with this medication, typically increasing the risk of blood clots, resulting of cardiovascular events, such as chest pain related to heart disease, stroke, heart attack, and sudden death.
Those people who believed they could be victims of Vioxx, may get a free case evaluation, to find if they are entitled to compensation due to injuries suffered from the prescription of Vioxx.